Rushailo: Tu-154 Tragedy Will Not Affect Russo-Ukrainian Relations

Vladimir RUSHAILO, chairman of the state committee of inquiry into the Tu-154 crash, rules out the possibility of Russia raising the matter of getting Ukrainian air space under control in the aftermath of the tragedy in the Black Sea. The Security Council secretary said that the formation of joint air defenses will not be negotiated; instead, there will be talks about joint Russian and Ukrainian air defense exercises. Mr. Rushailo believes the shooting down of the Russian passenger jet was a “tragic accident.” He points out that the committee findings make no mention of any Ukrainian missile, and that “the evidence of damage available does not allow us to identify the projectile. It is also true, however, that there could have been no other missile. Neither Russia, nor Turkey or Israel were conducting any military exercises in the vicinity. So in all likelihood it was a Ukrainian missile.” The commission chairman stresses again the “likelihood but not certainty. And our Ukrainian colleagues admit as much.” Vladimir Rushailo refuted the allegation that Ukraine confessed its guilt when pressed by Russia. “That’s absurd! Of course, Ukraine admitted to the fact of its own free will. No one has pressured anyone... We worked together. Moreover, I’m grateful to my Ukrainian colleague Yevhen Marchuk who figured out everything himself.” Mr. Rushailo is convinced that “there is no sense in mounting tensions and predicting that the tragedy will not affect Ukrainian-Russian relations in any way.”